Devotionals

Some of us are more prone to anxiety than others. Yet as we read in today’s passage, persistent worry is not our calling as Christians. We need not be anxious about tomorrow if we are serving Jesus, for while we ...Read More

That too many believers rarely consult other believers and elders in the church before making a decision reflects the degree to which a non-biblical individualism has corrupted even the thinking of Christians. While the church is not to legalistically bind ...Read More

Baptism is the counterpart to circumcision in the new covenant (Col. 2:8–15), and it is therefore a mark of God’s possession of us. We are “branded” by the Lord in our baptism, and every time we witness a baptism we ...Read More

Throughout the history of God’s people, men and women have sought office not to serve but to be served. But when men seek church offices in this way, they are not following the example of Christ who was appointed by ...Read More

Today’s passage also speaks of an altar to God in the midst of Egypt (Isa. 19:19). Matthew Henry sees this as pointing to the worship of God in spirit and truth in all places as Jesus describes in John 4:21–24: ...Read More

Luke 20:38 records some additional words Jesus spoke on this occasion: “All live to him [God].” This is a precious and comforting truth indeed. Death is not the end of life for God’s people; we will dwell with Him forever ...Read More

Gentleness is one fruit of the Spirit’s work in us (Gal. 5:22–23). Joseph’s brothers are not perfect, but the way in which they approach their father suggests a new concern for Jacob’s feelings and their transformation by the Spirit. Gentle ...Read More

Like Moses, we too are servants of God, and we want the Lord to pronounce us as good and faithful servants on the last day. While our service can by no means earn us a place in the kingdom and ...Read More

The Holy Spirit certainly worked in the old covenant people, regenerating the faithful remnant to trust in the Lord. Yet the old covenant people knew that a greater measure of the Spirit was yet to come. Under the new covenant, ...Read More

We cannot assume all of the Sethites who intermarried had true faith, but if they did, the disastrous results of their marriage to unbelievers confirm the stories and commands that warn us against this elsewhere in Scripture (for example, 1 ...Read More